Apparatus, method and article for reserving power storage devices at reserving power storage device collection, charging and distribution machines

ABSTRACT

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user, or displayed on a collection, charging and distribution machine. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map on a user&#39;s mobile device relative to the user&#39;s current location. The user may use their mobile device select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device. The system nay also warn the user that the user is near an edge of the pre-determined area having portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machines. Reservations may also be made automatically based on information regarding a potential route of a user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/559,064, filed Jul. 26, 2012 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,830,753), which claimspriority to U.S. Application No. 61/647,941, filed May 16, 2012, U.S.Application No. 61/647,936, filed May 16, 2012, U.S. Application No.61/601,953, filed Feb. 22, 2012, U.S. Application No. 61/601,949, filedFeb. 22, 2012, U.S. Application No. 61/601,404, filed Feb. 21, 2012,U.S. Application No. 61/581,566, filed Dec. 29, 2011, U.S. ApplicationNo. 61/557,170, filed Nov. 8, 2011, U.S. Application No. 61/534,772,filed Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. Application No. 61/534,761, filed Sep. 14,2011, U.S. Application No. 61/534,753, filed Sep. 14, 2011, U.S.Application No. 61/511,900, filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. Application No.61/511,887, filed Jul. 26, 2011, and U.S. Application No. 61/511,880,filed Jul. 26, 2011, all of which are incorporated by reference hereinin their entireties.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to the distribution ofrechargeable electrical power storage devices (e.g., secondarybatteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors), which may be suitablefor use in a variety of fields or applications, for instancetransportation and non-transportation uses.

Description of the Related Art

There are a wide variety of uses or applications for portable electricalpower storage devices.

One such application is in the field of transportation. Hybrid and allelectrical vehicles are becoming increasingly common. Such vehicles mayachieve a number of advantages over traditional internal combustionengine vehicles. For example, hybrid or electrical vehicles may achievehigher fuel economy and may have little or even zero tail pipepollution. In particular, all electric vehicles may not only have zerotail pipe pollution, but may be associated with lower overall pollution.For example, electrical power may be generated from renewable sources(e.g., solar, hydro). Also for example, electrical power may begenerated at generation plants that produce no air pollution (e.g.,nuclear plants). Also for example, electrical power may be generated atgeneration plants that burn relatively “clean burning” fuels (e.g.,natural gas), which have higher efficiency than internal combustionengines, and/or which employ pollution control or removal systems (e.g.,industrial air scrubbers) which are too large, costly or expensive foruse with individual vehicles.

Personal transportation vehicles such as combustion engine poweredscooters and/or motorbikes are ubiquitous in many places, for example inthe many large cities of Asia. Such scooters and/or motorbikes tend tobe relatively inexpensive, particularly as compared to automobiles, carsor trucks. Cities with high numbers of combustion engine scooters and/ormotorbikes also tend to be very densely populated and suffer from highlevels of air pollution. When new, many combustion engine scootersand/or motorbikes provide a relatively low polluting source of personaltransportation. For instance, such scooters and/or motorbikes may havehigher mileage ratings than larger vehicles. Some scooters and/ormotorbikes may even be equipped with basic pollution control equipment(e.g., catalytic converter). Unfortunately, factory specified levels ofemission are quickly exceeded as the scooters and/or motorbikes are usedand either not maintained and/or as the scooters and/or motorbikes aremodified, for example by intentional or unintentional removal ofcatalytic converters. Often owners or operators of scooters and/ormotorbikes lack the financial resources or the motivation to maintaintheir vehicles.

It is known that air pollution has a negative effect on human health,being associated with causing or exacerbating various diseases (e.g.,various reports tie air pollution to emphysema, asthma, pneumonia,cystic fibrosis as well as various cardiovascular diseases). Suchdiseases take large numbers of lives and severely reduce the quality oflife of countless others.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Zero tail pipe pollution alternatives to combustion engines wouldgreatly benefit air quality, and hence the health of large populations.

While the zero tail pipe emissions benefit of all-electric vehicles areappreciated, adoption of all-electric vehicles by large populations hasbeen slow. One of the reasons appears to be the cost, particularly thecost of secondary batteries. Another one of the reasons appears to bethe limited driving range available on a single charge of a battery, andthe relatively long time (e.g., multiple hours) necessary to recharge asecondary battery when depleted.

The approaches described herein may address some of the issues whichhave limited adoption of zero tail pipe emission technology,particularly in densely crowded cities, and in populations with limitedfinancial resources.

For example, some of the approaches described herein employ collection,charging and distribution machines, which may be otherwise be termed askiosks or vending machines, to collect, charge and distribute electricalpower storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors orultracapacitors). Such machines may be distributed about a city or otherregion at a variety of locations, such as convenience stores or existinggas or petrol filling stations.

The collection, charging and distribution machines may maintain a stockof fully charged or almost fully charged electrical storage devices foruse by end users. The collection, charging and distribution machines maycollect, receive or otherwise accept depleted electrical storagedevices, for example as returned by end users, recharging such for reuseby subsequent end users.

Thus, as a battery or other electrical power storage device reaches orapproaches the end of its stored charge, an end user may simply replace,exchange or otherwise swap batteries or other electrical power storagedevices. This may address issues related to cost, as well as limitedrange and relatively long recharging times.

As previously noted, secondary batteries and other electrical powerstorage devices are relatively expensive. Thus, it is beneficial tostock the least number of electrical power storage devices possible,while still ensuring that demand for such is satisfied.

For these reasons, the ability to have electrical power storage devicesavailable is important to commercial success of any such endeavor. Anumber of approaches are described herein to provide availability ofcharged electrical power storage devices to meet current demand

A method of operating a system for providing locations of collection,charging and distribution machines for collection, charging anddistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices, may includereceiving, by the system for providing locations of collection, chargingand distribution machines, information regarding locations of aplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines forcollection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energystorage devices; receiving, by the system for providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines, information regarding alocation of a user via a mobile device of the user; communicating to theuser, by the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines, locations of one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines that are one or more of:within a particular distance from the location of the user and within aparticular driving time from the location of the user by communicating,via the mobile device of the user, locations of the one or more of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines that areboth within the particular distance from the location of the user andwithin the particular driving time from the location of the user;receiving, by the system for providing locations of collection, chargingand distribution machines, a request originating from the mobile deviceto reserve a portable electrical energy storage device available at oneof the one or more of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines; and in response to the request, reserving for theuser, for a limited period of time, by the system for providinglocations of collection, charging and distribution machines, anavailable portable electrical energy storage device at the one of theone or more of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines, wherein the a limited period of time automatically expires ifthe user does not reach the one of the one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines in time.

The particular distance is within approximately a ten kilometer radiusfrom the location of the user. The driving time is approximately fifteenminutes.

The limited amount of time is based on one or more of: a distance of theone of the one or more of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines at which the available portable electrical energystorage device is reserved from the location of the user and a drivingtime from the location of the user to the one of the one or more of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines at which theavailable portable electrical energy storage device is reserved.

The method may further comprise communicating via the mobile device ofthe user how many portable electrical energy storage devices areavailable at each of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines.

A method of operating a system for reserving portable electrical energystorage devices at collection, charging and distribution machines, maybe summarized as receiving, by the system for reserving portableelectrical energy storage devices, information regarding locations of aplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines forcollection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energystorage devices; receiving, by the system for reserving portableelectrical energy storage devices, information regarding a potentialroute of a user; and reserving for the user, by the system for reservingportable electrical energy storage devices, one or more availableportable electrical energy storage devices at one or more correspondingcollection, charging and distribution machines based on the informationregarding the potential route of the user.

The reserving for the user, the one or more available portableelectrical energy storage devices includes reserving for the user, theone or more available portable electrical energy storage devices inresponse to the user exchanging a portable electrical energy storagedevice at a particular collection, charging and distribution machine.

The receiving the information regarding a potential route of a userincludes receiving the information regarding the potential route of theuser prior to the user exchanging the portable electrical energy storagedevice at the particular collection, charging and distribution machine.

The receiving the information regarding a potential route of a userincludes receiving the information regarding the potential route of theuser at the particular collection, charging and distribution machine.

The method may further comprise: receiving, by the system for reservingportable electrical energy storage devices, information regarding acurrent location of the user; and notifying, by the system for reservingportable electrical energy storage devices, the user of an upcomingreserved portable electrical energy storage device at one of the one ormore corresponding collection, charging and distribution machines basedon the received information regarding the current location of the user.

The notifying the user of an upcoming reserved portable electricalenergy storage device includes notifying the user via a mobile device ofthe user by triggering an alarm or vibrator function of the mobiledevice.

A method of operating a system for providing locations of collection,charging and distribution machines for collection, charging anddistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices, may besummarized as receiving user input at a collection, charging anddistribution machine; determining, by the system for providing locationsof collection, charging and distribution machines, whether the user islikely to venture outside an pre-determined area having portableelectrical energy storage device collection, charging and distributionmachines; and if it is determined by the system for providing locationsof collection, charging and distribution machines that the user islikely to venture outside the pre-determined area having portableelectrical energy storage device collection, charging and distributionmachines, then warning the user, by the system for providing locationsof collection, charging and distribution machines that the user is nearan edge of the pre-determined area having portable electrical energystorage device collection, charging and distribution machines.

The determining, by the system for providing locations of collection,charging and distribution machines, whether the user is likely toventure outside an pre-determined area having portable electrical energystorage device collection, charging and distribution machines is basedon a direction in which the user was previously traveling beforearriving at the collection, charging and distribution machine.

The method may further comprise determining, by the system for providinglocations of collection, charging and distribution machines, thedirection in which the user was previously traveling before arriving atthe collection, charging and distribution machine based on previouslocations of portable electrical energy storage device exchanges made bythe user at particular collection, charging and distribution machines.

The method may further comprise determining, by the system for providinglocations of collection, charging and distribution machines, thedirection in which the user was previously traveling before arriving atthe collection, charging and distribution machine based on GPS signaldata regarding one or more previous locations of the user.

A system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines for collection, charging and distribution ofportable electrical energy storage devices may be summarized as: atleast one processor of the system for providing locations of collection,charging and distribution machines; and at least one processor-readablememory of the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines that stores instructions executable by the atleast one processor to cause the at least one processor to: receive userinput at a collection, charging and distribution machine; determine, bythe collection, charging and distribution machine, whether a portableelectrical energy storage device is available at the collection,charging and distribution machine; and if it is determined, by thecollection, charging and distribution machine, that a portableelectrical energy storage device is not available at the collection,charging and distribution machine, indicate to the user, by thecollection, charging and distribution machine, one or more othercollection, charging and distribution machines at which a portableelectrical energy storage device is available.

The indicating includes displaying a map on which the location of theuser is indicated and on which the one or more other collection,charging and distribution machines at which the portable electricalenergy storage device is available are indicated.

The determining, by the collection, charging and distribution machine,whether a portable electrical energy storage device is available at thecollection, charging and distribution machine is based on an existenceof and a charge level of one or more portable electrical energy storagedevices at the collection, charging and distribution machine.

The instructions are executable by the at least one processor to mayfurther cause the at least one processor to receive from the user aselection of one of the collection, charging and distribution machinelocations indicated on the displayed map; and communicating theselection to reserve an available portable electrical energy storagedevice at a collection, charging and distribution machine at theselected location.

The instructions may be executable by the at least one processor tofurther cause the at least one processor to: display an indication on amobile device of the user that the available portable electrical energystorage device at the collection, charging and distribution machine atthe selected location has been reserved for the user.

The instructions may be executable by the at least one processor tofurther cause the at least one processor to display an indication on amobile device of the user of how much time is remaining until areservation of the portable electrical energy storage device at thecollection, charging and distribution machine at the selected locationexpires.

A method of operating a system for providing locations of collection,charging and distribution machines for collection, charging anddistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices may besummarized as including: receiving, by the system for providinglocations of collection, charging and distribution machines, informationregarding locations of a plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines for collection, charging and distribution ofportable electrical energy storage devices; receiving, by the system forproviding locations of collection, charging and distribution machines,information regarding a location of a user; and communicating to theuser locations of one or more of the plurality of collection, chargingand distribution machines that are one or more of: within a particulardistance from the location of the user and within a particular drivingtime from the location of the user.

The particular distance may be within approximately a ten kilometerradius from the location of the user. The driving time may beapproximately fifteen minutes. The communicating to the user thelocations of one or more of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines may include communicating to a mobile device ofthe user the user locations of one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines that are both within theparticular distance from the location of the user and within theparticular driving time from the location of the user. The method mayfurther include communicating to a mobile device of the user how manyportable electrical energy storage devices are available at each of theone or more of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines. The method may further include receiving a request originatingfrom the user to reserve a portable electrical energy storage deviceavailable at one of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines; and in response to the request,reserving for the user an available portable electrical energy storagedevice at the one of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines. The available portable electricalenergy storage device may be reserved for a limited amount of time forthe user. The limited amount of time may be based on one or more of: adistance of the one of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines at which the available portableelectrical energy storage device is reserved from the location of theuser and a driving time from the location of the user to the one of theone or more of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines at which the available portable electrical energy storagedevice is reserved. The limited amount of time may be approximatelyfifteen minutes. The reserving for the user an available portableelectrical energy storage device may include decreasing a stored valueindicative of how many portable electrical energy storage devices areavailable at the one of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines. The method may further includecommunicating to the user how many portable electrical energy storagedevices are available at each of the one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines; and communicating to theuser types of portable electrical energy storage devices that areavailable at each of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines. The method may further includereceiving a request originating from the user to reserve a portableelectrical energy storage device of a particular type of the types ofportable electrical energy storage devices that are available at the oneor more of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines; and in response to the request, reserving for the user anavailable portable electrical energy storage device of the particulartype at the one of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines.

A system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines for collection, charging and distribution ofportable electrical energy storage devices may be summarized asincluding at least one processor of the system for providing locationsof collection, charging and distribution machines; and at least oneprocessor-readable memory of the system for providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines that stores instructionsexecutable by the at least one processor to cause the at least oneprocessor to: receive information regarding locations of one or more ofa plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines that areone or more of: within a particular distance from a location of a userand within a particular driving time from the location of the user; anddisplay a map on which the location of the user is indicated and onwhich one or more of the locations of the one or more of the pluralityof collection, charging and distribution machines are indicated.

The instructions may be executable by the at least one processor tofurther cause the at least one processor to: receive informationregarding the current location of the user; and compare the currentlocation of the user with the locations of the one or more of aplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines. Theinstructions may be executable by the at least one processor to furthercause the at least one processor to: indicate on the displayed map thelocation of the user and the locations of the one or more of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines based on thecomparison of the current location of the user with the locations of theone or more of a plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines. The instructions may be executable by the at least oneprocessor to further cause the at least one processor to: indicate onthe displayed map whether a portable electrical energy storage device isavailable at each of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines for which a location is indicated onthe displayed map. The instructions may be executable by the at leastone processor to further cause the at least one processor to: receiveinformation regarding availability of portable electrical energy storagedevices at each of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines; and indicate on the displayed maplocations only of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines at which at least one portableelectrical energy storage device is available based on the receivedinformation regarding availability of portable electrical energy storagedevices. The instructions may be executable by the at least oneprocessor to further cause the at least one processor to: receive fromthe user a selection of one of the collection, charging and distributionmachine locations indicated on the displayed map; communicating theselection to reserve an available portable electrical energy storagedevice at a collection, charging and distribution machine at theselected location. The instructions may be executable by the at leastone processor to further cause the at least one processor to: display anindication on a device of the user that the available portableelectrical energy storage device at the collection, charging anddistribution machine at the selected location has been reserved for theuser. The instructions may be executable by the at least one processorto further cause the at least one processor to: display an indication ona device of the user of how much time is remaining until a reservationof the portable electrical energy storage device at the collection,charging and distribution machine at the selected location expires.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions thatwhen executed by a system for providing locations of collection,charging and distribution machines for collection, charging anddistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices, may causethe system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines to perform: receiving from a user an indication ofa selection of one of a plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machine locations indicated on a map displayed on a deviceof the user; communicating the selection to reserve an availableportable electrical energy storage device at a collection, charging anddistribution machine at the selected location.

The instructions may further cause the system for providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines to perform: indicating onthe displayed map a location of a user; receiving from the user anindication of a selection of a distance; determining which collection,charging and distribution machines of a plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines have one or more portable electricalenergy storage devices available and are within the selected distancefrom the user; and indicating on the displayed map selectable locationsof the determined collection, charging and distribution machines. Theinstructions may further cause the system for providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines to perform: indicating onthe displayed map a location of a user; receiving from the user anindication of a selection of a driving time; determining whichcollection, charging and distribution machines of a plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines have one or more portableelectrical energy storage devices available and are within the selecteddriving time; and indicating on the displayed map selectable locationsof the determined collection, charging and distribution machines. Theinstructions may further cause the system for providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines to perform: communicatingdriving directions on the displayed map to the collection, charging anddistribution machine at the selected location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elementsor acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of variouselements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elementsare arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility.Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are notintended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of theparticular elements, and have been solely selected for ease ofrecognition in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a collection, charging and distributionmachine along with a number of electrical power storage devicesaccording to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment, along with anelectric scooter or motorbike, and an electrical service provided via anelectrical grid.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the collection, charging and distributionmachine of FIG. 1, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system for providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines, such as that of FIG. 1,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the collection, charging and distributionmachine management system of FIG. 3, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment,

FIG. 5 is an example user interface indicating locations of collection,charging and distribution machines, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of providinglocations of collection, charging and distribution machines, accordingto one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of providinglocations of collection, charging and distribution machines useful inthe method of FIG. 6, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of reserving aportable electrical energy storage device, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment, useful in the method of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of providing a userinterface for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of communicating,via a mobile device of a user, the locations of one or more of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines, accordingto one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of reservingportable electrical energy storage devices based on informationregarding the potential route of a user, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of warning a userthat the user is near an edge of the pre-determined area having portableelectrical energy storage device collection, charging and distributionmachines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedembodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures associated with vending apparatus,batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, power convertersincluding but not limited to transformers, rectifiers, DC/DC powerconverters, switch mode power converters, controllers, andcommunications systems and structures and networks have not been shownor described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions ofthe embodiments.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, suchas, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open,inclusive sense that is as “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The use of ordinals such as first, second and third does not necessarilyimply a ranked sense of order, but rather may only distinguish betweenmultiple instances of an act or structure.

Reference to portable electrical power storage device means any devicecapable of storing electrical power and releasing stored electricalpower including but not limited to batteries, supercapacitors orultracapacitors. Reference to batteries means chemical storage cell orcells, for instance rechargeable or secondary battery cells includingbut not limited to nickel cadmium alloy or lithium ion battery cells.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are forconvenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of theembodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an environment 100 including a collection, charging anddistribution machine 102, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may take the formof a vending machine or kiosk. The collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 has a plurality of receivers, compartments or receptacles104 a, 104 b-104 n (only three called out in FIG. 1, collectively 104)to removably receive portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g.,batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors) 106 a-106 n (collectively106) for collection, charging and distribution. As illustrated in FIG.1, some of the receivers 104 are empty, while other receivers 104 holdportable electrical energy storage devices 106. While FIG. 1 shows asingle portable electrical energy storage device 106 per receiver 104,in some embodiments each receiver 104 may hold two or even more portableelectrical energy storage devices 106. For example, each of thereceivers 104 may be sufficiently deep to receive three portableelectrical energy storage devices 106. Thus, for example, thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 illustrated in FIG. 1may have a capacity capable of simultaneously holding 40, 80 or 120portable electrical energy storage devices 106.

The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 may take a variety offorms, for example batteries (e.g., array of battery cells) orsupercapacitors or ultracapacitors (e.g., array of ultracapacitorcells). For example, the portable electrical energy storage devices 106z may take the form of rechargeable batteries (i.e., secondary cells orbatteries). The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 z may,for instance, be sized to physically fit, and electrically power,personal transportation vehicles, such as all-electric scooters ormotorbikes 108. As previously noted, combustion engine scooters andmotorbikes are common in many large cities, for example in Asia, Europeand the Middle East. The ability to conveniently access chargedbatteries throughout a city or region may allow the use of all-electricscooters and motorbikes 108 in place of combustion engine scooters andmotorbikes, thereby alleviating air pollution, as well as reducingnoise.

The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 (only visible forportable electrical energy storage device 106 z) may include a number ofelectrical terminals 110 a, 110 b (two illustrated, collectively 110),accessible from an exterior of the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z. The electrical terminals 110 allow charge to be deliveredfrom the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z, as well asallow charge to be delivered to the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z for charging or recharging the same. While illustrated inFIG. 1 as posts, the electrical terminals 110 may take any other formwhich is accessible from an exterior of the portable electrical energystorage device 106 z, including electrical terminals positioned withinslots in a battery housing.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 is positioned atsome location 112 at which the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 is conveniently and easily accessible by various end users.The location may take any of a large variety of forms, for example, aretail environment such as a convenience store, supermarket, gas orpetrol station, or service shop. Alternatively, the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102 may stand alone at a location 112 notassociated with an existing retail or other business, for example inpublic parks or other public places.

Thus, for example, collection, charging and distribution machines 102may be located at each store of a chain of convenience stores throughouta city or region. Such may advantageously rely on the fact thatconvenience stores are often sited or distributed based on convenienceto the target population or demographic. Such may advantageously rely onpre-existing leases on storefronts or other retail locations to allow anextensive network of collection, charging and distribution machines 102to be quickly developed in a city or region. Quickly achieving a largenetwork which is geographically well distributed to serve a targetpopulation enhances the ability to depend on such a system and likelycommercial success of such an effort. Providing a system in whichlocations of the collection, charging and distribution machines areprovided to and can be easily found by users of the collection, chargingand distribution machines also enhances the ability to depend on such asystem and likely commercial success of such an effort. The ability toquickly provide locations of the collection, charging and distributionmachines 102 to users as well as provide the ability for users to selectand reserve portable electrical energy storage devices at selectedcollection, charging and distribution machines 102 is addressed herein.

The location 112 may include an electrical service 114 to receiveelectrical power from a generating station (not shown) for example via agrid 116. The electrical service 114 may, for example, include one ormore of an electrical service meter 114 a, a circuit panel (e.g.,circuit breaker panel or fuse box) 114 b, wiring 114 c, and electricaloutlet 114 d. Where the location 112 is an existing retail orconvenience store, the electrical service 114 may be an existingelectrical service, so may be somewhat limited in rating (e.g., 120volts, 240 volts, 220 volts, 230 volts, 15 amps).

Neither the operator of the retail location 112, nor the owner,distributor or operator of the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 may wish to bear the costs of upgrading the electricalservice 114. Yet, quick charging is desired in order to maintain anadequate supply of portable electrical energy storage devices 106available for use by end users. The ability to quickly charge whilemaintaining existing or otherwise limited rated electrical service isaddressed in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,900,entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Jul.26, 2011.

Optionally, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 mayinclude or be coupled to a source of renewable electrical power. Forexample, where installed in an outside location the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102 may include an array of photovoltaic (PV)cells 118 to produce electrical power from solar insolation.Alternatively, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 maybe electrically coupled to a microturbine (e.g., wind turbine) or PVarray positioned elsewhere at the location 112, for instance on a rooftop or pole mounted at a top of a pole (not shown).

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may becommunicatively coupled to one or more remotely located computersystems, such as back end or back office systems (only one shown) 120.The back end or back office systems 120 may collect data from and/orcontrol a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machine 102distributed about an area, such as a city. The communications may occurover one or more communications channels including one or more networks122, or non-networked communications channels. Communications may beover one or more wired communications channels (e.g., twisted pairwiring, optical fiber), wireless communications channels (e.g., radio,microwave, satellite, 801.11 compliant). Networked communicationschannels may include one or more local area networks (LANs), wide areanetworks (WANs), extranets, intranets, or the Internet including theWorldwide Web portion of the Internet.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may include a userinterface 124. The user interface may include a variety of input/output(I/O) devices to allow an end user to interact with the collection,charging and distribution machine 102. Various I/O devices are calledout and described in reference to FIG. 2, which follows.

FIG. 2 shows the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 ofFIG. 1, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 includes a controlsubsystem 202, a charging subsystem 204, a communications subsystem 206,and a user interface subsystem 208.

The control subsystem 202 includes a controller 210, for example amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic controller (PLC),programmable gate array (PGA), application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) or another controller capable of receiving signals from varioussensors, performing logical operations, and sending signals to variouscomponents. Typically, the controller 210 may take the form of amicroprocessor (e.g., INTEL, AMD, ATOM). The control subsystem 202 mayalso include one or more non-transitory processor- or computer-readablestorage media, for example read only memory (ROM) 212, random accessmemory (RAM) 214, and data store 216 (e.g., solid-state storage mediasuch as flash memory or EEPROM, spinning storage media such as harddisk). The non-transitory processor- or computer-readable storage media212, 214, 216 may be in addition to any non-transitory storage medium(e.g., registers) which is part of the controller 210. The controlsubsystem 202 may include one or more buses 218 (only one illustrated)coupling various components together, for example one or more powerbuses, instruction buses, data buses, etc.

As illustrated, the ROM 212, or some other one of the non-transitoryprocessor- or computer-readable storage media 212, 214, 216, storesinstructions and/or data or values for variables or parameters. The setsof data may take a variety of forms, for example a lookup table, a setof records in a database, etc. The instructions and sets of data orvalues are executable by the controller 110. Execution of theinstructions and sets of data or values causes the controller 110 toperform specific acts to cause the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 to collect, charge, and distribute portable energy storagedevices. Specific operation of the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 is described herein and also below with reference to variousflow diagrams (FIGS. 14-16).

The controller 210 may use RAM 214 in a conventional fashion, forvolatile storage of instructions, data, etc. The controller 210 may usedata store 216 to log or retain information, for example telemetricinformation related to collection, charging and/or distribution orcollection of the portable electric power storage devices 106 and/oroperation of the collection, charging and distribution machine 102itself. The instructions are executable by the controller 210 to controloperation of the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 inresponse to end user or operator input, and using data or values for thevariables or parameters.

The control subsystem 202 receives signals from various sensors and/orother components of the collection, charging and distribution machine102 which include information that characterizes or is indicative ofoperation, status, or condition of such other components. Sensors arerepresented in FIG. 2 by the letter S appearing in a circle along withappropriate subscript letters.

For example, one or more position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may detect thepresence or absence of portable electrical power storage device 106 ateach of the receivers 104. The position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take avariety of forms. For example, the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) maytake the form of mechanical switches that are closed, or alternativelyopened, in response to contact with a portion of a respective portableelectrical power storage device 106 when the portable electrical powerstorage device 106 is inserted into the receiver 104. Also for example,the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take the form of optical switches(i.e., optical source and receiver) that are closed, or alternativelyopened, in response to contact with a portion of a respective portableelectrical power storage device 106 when the portable electrical powerstorage device 106 is inserted into the receiver 104. Also for example,the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take the form of electricalsensors or switches that are closed, or alternatively opened, inresponse to detecting a closed circuit condition created by contact withthe terminals 110 of a respective portable electrical power storagedevice 106 when the portable electrical power storage device 106 isinserted into the receiver 104, or an open circuit condition thatresults from the lack of a respective portable electrical power storagedevice 106 in the receiver 104. These examples are intended to benon-limiting, and it is noted that any other structures and devices fordetecting the presence/absence, the availability, or even the insertionof the portable electrical power storage devices 106 into receivers maybe employed.

For example, one or more charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may detect chargeof the portable electrical power storage devices 106 at each of thereceivers 104. Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may detect the amount ofcharge stored by the portable electrical power storage devices 106.Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may additionally detect an amount of chargeand/or rate of charging being supplied to ones of the portableelectrical power storage devices 106 at each of the receivers 104. Suchmay allow assessment of current (i.e., temporal) charge condition orstatus of each portable electrical power storage device 106, as well asallow feedback control over charging of same, including control overrate of charging. Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may include any varietyof current and/or voltage sensors.

For example, one or more charge sensors S_(T1) (only one shown) maydetect or sense a temperature at the receivers 104 or in the ambientenvironment.

The control subsystem 202 provides signals to various actuators and/orother components responsive to control signals, which signals includeinformation that characterizes or is indicative of an operation thecomponent is to perform or a state or condition in which the componentsshould enter. Control signals, actuators or other components responsiveto control signals are represented in FIG. 2 by the letter C appearingin a circle along with appropriate subscript letters.

For example, one or more engine control signals C_(A1)-C_(AN) may affectthe operation of one or more actuators 220 (only one illustrated). Forinstance, a control signal C_(A1) may cause movement of an actuator 220between a first and a second position or change a magnetic fieldproduced by the actuator 220. The actuator 220 may take any of a varietyof forms, including but not limited to a solenoid, an electric motorsuch as a stepper motor, or an electromagnet. The actuator 220 may becoupled to operate a latch, lock or other retainer mechanism 222. Thelatch, lock or other retainer mechanism 222 may selectively secure orretain one or more portable electrical power storage devices 106(FIG. 1) in the receiver 104 (FIG. 1). For instance, the latch, lock orother retainer mechanism 222 may physically couple to a complimentarystructure that is part of a housing of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the latch, lock or otherretainer mechanism 222 may magnetically couple to a complimentarystructure that is part of a housing of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 (FIG. 1). Also for instance, the latch, lock orother mechanism may open a receiver 104 (FIG. 1), or may allow areceiver 104 to be opened, to receive a partially or fully dischargedportable electrical power storage device 106 for charging. For example,the actuator may open and/or close a door to the receiver 104 (FIG. 1),to selectively provide access to a portable electrical power storagedevice 106 (FIG. 1) received therein. Also for example, the actuator mayopen and/or close a latch or lock, allowing an end user to open and/orclose a door to the receiver 104 (FIG. 1), to selectively provide accessto a portable electrical power storage device 106 (FIG. 1) receivedtherein.

The control subsystem 202 may include one or more ports 224 a to providecontrol signals to one or more ports 224 b of the charging subsystem206. The ports 224 a, 224 b may provide bi-directional communications.The control subsystem 202 may include one or more ports 226 a to providecontrol signals to one or more ports 226 b of the user interfacesubsystem 208. The ports 226 a, 226 b may provide bi-directionalcommunications.

The charging subsystem 102 includes various electrical and electroniccomponents to charge portable electrical power storage devices 106 whenpositioned or received in the receivers 104. For example, the chargingsubsystem 102 may include one or more power buses or power bus bars,relays, contactors or other switches (e.g., insulated gate bipolartransistors or IGBTs, metal oxide semiconductor transistors or MOSFETs),rectifier bridge(s), current sensors, ground fault circuitry, etc. Theelectrical power is supplied via contacts that can take any of a varietyof forms, for instance terminals, leads, posts, etc. The contacts allowelectrical coupling of various components. Some possible implementationsare illustrated in FIG. 2. Such is not intended to be exhaustive.Additional components may be employed while other components may beomitted.

The illustrated charging subsystem 102 includes a first power converter230 that receives electrical power from the electrical service 114(FIG. 1) via a line or cord 232. The power will typically be in the formof single, two or three phase AC electrical power. As such, the firstpower converter 230 may need to convert and otherwise condition theelectrical power received via the electrical services 114 (FIG. 1), forexample for rectifying an AC waveform to DC, transforming voltage,current, phase, as well as reducing transients and noise. Thus, thefirst power converter 230 may include a transformer 234, rectifier 236,DC/DC power converter 238, and filter(s) 240.

The transformer 234 may take the form of any variety of commerciallyavailable transformers with suitable ratings for handling the powerreceived via the electrical service 114 (FIG. 1). Some embodiments mayemploy multiple transformers. The transformer 234 may advantageouslyprovide galvanic isolation between the components of the collection,charging and distribution machine 102 and the grid 116 (FIG. 1). Therectifier 236 may take any of variety of forms, for example a fullbridge diode rectifier or a switch mode rectifier. The rectifier 236 maybe operated to transform AC electrical power to DC electrical power. TheDC/DC power converter 238 may be any of a large variety of forms. Forexample, DC/DC power converter 238 may take the form a switch mode DC/DCpower converter, for instance employing IGBTs or MOSFETs in a half orfull bridge configuration, and may include one or more inductors. TheDC/DC power converter 238 may have any number of topologies including aboost converter, buck converter, synchronous buck converter, buck-boostconverter or fly-back converter. The filter(s) 240 may include one ormore capacitors, resistors, Zener diodes or other elements to suppressvoltage spikes, or to remove or reduce transients and/or noise.

The illustrated charging subsystem 102 may also receive electrical powerfrom a renewable power source, for example the PV array 118 (FIG. 1).Such may be converted or conditioned by the first power converter 230,for example being supplied directly to the DC/DC power converter 238,bypassing the transformer 236 and/or rectifier 236. Alternatively, theillustrated charging subsystem 102 may include a dedicated powerconverter to convert or otherwise condition such electrical power.

The illustrated charging subsystem 102 may optionally include secondpower converter 242 that receives electrical power from one or moreportable electrical power storage devices 106 (FIG. 1) via one or morelines 244, for charging other ones of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106. As such, the second power converter 242 may need toconvert and/or otherwise condition the electrical power received fromportable electrical power storage devices 106, for example optionallytransforming voltage or current, as well as reducing transients andnoise. Thus, the second power converter 242 may optionally include aDC/DC power converter 246 and/or filter(s) 248. Various types of DC/DCpower converters and filters are discussed above.

The illustrated charging subsystem 102 includes a plurality of switches250 responsive to the control signals delivered via ports 224 a, 224 bfrom the control subsystem 202. The switches may be operable toselectively couple a first number or set of portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 to be charged from electrical power supplied by boththe electrical service via the first power converter 230 and fromelectrical power supplied by a second number or set of portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The first number or set ofportable electrical power storage devices 106 may include a singleportable electrical power storage device 106, two, or even more portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The second number or set ofportable electrical power storage devices 106 may include a singleportable electrical power storage device 106, two, or even more portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 are represented in FIG. 2 as loads L₁, L₂-L_(N).

The communications subsystem 206 may additionally include one or morecommunications modules or components which facilitate communicationswith the various components of a back end or back office system 120(FIG. 1). The communications subsystem 206 may, for example, include oneor more modems 252 or one or more Ethernet or other types ofcommunications cards or components 254. A port 256 a of the controlsubsystem 202 may communicatively couple the control subsystem 202 witha port 256 b of the communications subsystem 206. The communicationssubsystem 206 may provide wired and/or wireless communications. Thecommunications subsystem 206 may include one or more ports, wirelessreceivers, wireless transmitters or wireless transceivers to providewireless signal paths to the various remote components or systems. Theremote communications subsystem 206 may include one or more bridges orrouters suitable to handle network traffic including switched packettype communications protocols (TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networkingprotocols.

The user interface system 208 includes one or more user input/output(I/O) components. For example, user interface system 208 may include atouch screen display 208 a, operable to present information and agraphical user interface (GUI) to an end user and to receive indicationsof user selections. The user interface system 208 may include a keyboardor keypad 208 b, and/or a cursor controller (e.g., mouse, trackball,trackpad) (not illustrated) to allow an end user to enter informationand/or select user selectable icons in a GUI. The user interface system208 may include a speaker 208 c to provide aural messages to an end userand/or a microphone 208 d to receive spoken user input such as spokencommands.

The user interface system 208 may include a card reader 208 e to readinformation from card type media 209. The card reader 208 e may take avariety of forms. For instance, the card reader 208 e may take the formof, or include, a magnetic stripe reader for reading information encodedin a magnetic stripe carried by a card 209. For instance, the cardreader 208 e may take the form of, or include, a machine-readable symbol(e.g., barcode, matrix code) card reader for reading information encodedin a machine-readable symbol carried by a card 209. For instance, thecard reader 208 e may take the form of, or include, a smart card readerfor reading information encoded in a non-transitory medium carried by acard 209. Such may, for instance, include media employing radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponders or electronic payment chips(e.g., near filed communications (NFC) chips). Thus, the card reader 208e may be able to read information from a variety of card media 209, forinstance credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, prepaid cards, as wellas identification media such as drivers licenses.

The user interface system 208 may include a bill acceptor 208 f and avalidator and/or coin acceptor 208 g to accept and validate cashpayments. Such may be highly useful in servicing populations who lackaccess to credit. Bill acceptor and validator 208 f and/or coin acceptor208 g may take any variety of forms, for example those that arecurrently commercially available and used in various vending machinesand kiosks.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system 300 for providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines, such as that of FIG. 1,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

Shown is a collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302 for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines, such as, for example, machines like thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1. Thecollection, charging and distribution machine management system 302 alsoprovides information regarding the availability of portable electricalenergy storage devices for users of portable electrical energy storagedevices 106 at each collection, charging and distribution machine 102,and in some embodiments, the types of portable electrical energy storagedevices 106 available. In some embodiments, the collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302 may be the back end or backoffice system 120 shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302 may be part ofor may be in operable communication with, the back end or back officesystem 120 shown in FIG. 1.

For illustrative purposes, shown are two example areas, Area X 306 andArea Y 304, which each contain one or more collection, charging anddistribution machines and one or more electrically powered vehicles. Asshown in FIG. 3, as an example, Area Y 306 includes collection, chargingand distribution machine 308 a, collection, charging and distributionmachine 308 b and vehicle 310 a. For example, Area Y may be defined by aradius from vehicle 310 a or from user mobile device 313 of a particulardistance (e.g., 10 kilometers), defined by a particular driving time(e.g., 10 minutes) from vehicle 310 a or mobile device 313 and/ordefined by a particular driving distance from vehicle 310 a or mobiledevice 313. The driving time and/or driving distance may be calculatedbased on the current location of the vehicle 310 a and/or mobile device313 and one or more of: the roads and driving routes available to theparticular collection, charging and distribution machine from thecurrent location of the vehicle 310 a and/or mobile device 313, currenttraffic conditions, preferred routes of the user, historical drivingroutes of the user, the current direction the user is traveling, etc.Area X 304 includes collection, charging and distribution machine 308 c,collection, charging and distribution machine 308 d and vehicle 310 b.For example, Area X may be defined by a radius from vehicle 310 b of aparticular distance and/or defined by a particular driving distance ordriving time from vehicle 310 b. In other embodiments, each arearepresents a different geographic location whose boundaries may bedefined by any number of criteria including, but not limited to:property, neighborhood, district, municipality, city, population,county, state, province, country, road, water, longitudinal orlatitudinal coordinates, boundaries or any other public, private,physical or political boundary. Also, each area may contain fewer ormore collection, charging and distribution machines depending on theboundary constraints.

The collection, charging and distribution machine management system 302is in operable communication with the collection, charging anddistribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d, and one or moreuser mobile communication devices 313 (only one shown as an example),such that data may be exchanged between the collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302, the collection, charging anddistribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d, and the user mobilecommunication device 313. This data may represent actual, expected orpredicted availability of portable electrical energy storage devices 106at one or more of the collection, charging and distribution machines. Insome embodiments, an available portable electrical energy storage device106 z may be an operable and fully or nearly fully charged portableelectrical energy storage device that has not yet been reserved. Also,the collection, charging and distribution machine management system 302,the collection, charging and distribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 cand 308 d, and the user mobile communication device 313 may, in someembodiments, additionally or instead be in operable communicationdirectly with each other.

This communication between the various items, systems and entities ofFIG. 3 is enabled by the various communications subsystems of thesevarious items, systems and entities. For example, this communication maybe enabled by the various communications subsystems of the distributionmachines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d, the collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302, the vehicles 310 a and 310b, and the user mobile communications device 313. One or more of suchcommunication subsystems may provide wired and/or wirelesscommunications (e.g., cellular, local area network connections, and/orshort range wireless connections). The communications subsystems of theitems in FIG. 3 may include one or more ports, wireless receivers,wireless transmitters or wireless transceivers to provide wirelesssignal paths to the various remote components or systems. The remotecommunications subsystems may include one or more bridges or routerssuitable to handle network traffic including switched packet typecommunications protocols (TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networkingprotocols.

For example, the collection, charging and distribution machinemanagement system 302 may receive an update from collection, chargingand distribution machine 308 c indicating the current inventory and/oravailability of charged electrical energy storage devices at collection,charging and distribution machine 308 c. In some embodiments, thecollection, charging and distribution machine management system 302 maycontinually or periodically monitor the inventories of chargedelectrical energy storage devices of all or many of the collection,charging and distribution machines. Also, the collection, charging anddistribution machines may continually or periodically provide updates tothe collection, charging and distribution machine management system 302regarding the inventory of charged electrical energy storage devices ofthe respective collection, charging and distribution machine. Thisinformation may be provided to mobile device 313, vehicle 310 a, and/orvehicle 310 b continuously, periodically, aperiodically and/or or inresponse to a request for such information from mobile device 313,vehicle 310 a, and/or vehicle 310 b. The locations of collection,charging and distribution machines having available portable electricalenergy storage devices may then be provided to a respective user of themobile device 313, vehicle 310 a, and/or vehicle 310 b.

For example, a map may be displayed on a display of the mobile device313, vehicle 310 a, and/or vehicle 310 b on which locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines within the respectivearea (e.g., area X or area Y) having available portable electricalenergy storage devices are indicated, along with the current location ofthe respective mobile device 313, vehicle 310 a, and/or vehicle 310 b.Location data of the mobile device 313, vehicle 310 a, and/or vehicle310 b may be determined by the charging and distribution machinemanagement system 302 and/or the mobile device 313, vehicle 310 a,and/or vehicle 310 b based on a global positioning system (GPS) signalassociated with the mobile device 313, vehicle 310 a, and/or vehicle 310b or other location information regarding the mobile device 313, vehicle310 a, and/or vehicle 310 b. This may be provided using a clientapplication on the mobile device specialized for the reservation ofportable electrical energy storage devices, web browser, etc.

The user may then select a location indicated on the displayed map(e.g., via a touch screen or other interface enabling selection of theindicated locations) at which to reserve one or more available portableelectrical energy storage devices. This reservation is stored in adatabase of reservations maintained centrally by the collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302 and/or locallyat the selected collection, charging and distribution machine. Forexample, the reservation may include a record in which an availableportable electrical energy storage device or unique reservation numberor code is associated with the user who reserved the portable electricalenergy storage device, such as by a user identification or other userdata communicated from the mobile device 313, vehicle 310 a, and/orvehicle 310 b to the collection, charging and distribution machine 102or the collection, charging and distribution machine management system302 when the reservation was being made. In some embodiments, eachportable electrical energy storage device may have an identificationcode or number uniquely identifying the particular portable electricalenergy storage device. This portable electrical energy storage deviceidentification number or code may be associated with the useridentification number or code in the reservation record. The number ofavailable portable electrical energy storage devices available at theselected collection, charging and distribution machine location is thendecreased by one by the collection, charging and distribution machinemanagement system 302 and/or by the selected collection, charging anddistribution machine.

The reservation may be for a limited time or have other restrictions.After the limited time elapses and the user has not removed the reservedportable electrical energy storage device at the selected collection,charging and distribution machine, the portable electrical energystorage device then becomes available and this available status isupdated in the collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302 and/or the selected collection, charging and distributionmachine system.

Some embodiments provide progressive portable electrical energy storagedevice reservation functionality based on a planned trip. For example,when a user plans a trip (for example, a weekend trip up a mountain),the user can use a web-based application to plan the trip and hencereserve portable electrical energy storage devices along the way up themountain to ensure an interruption free trip. Upon the user swapping thefirst portable electrical energy storage device at the bottom of thehill, a reservation timer will automatically start and the collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302 willautomatically reserve the portable electrical energy storage devicesalong the way up the mountain.

Also, a portable electrical energy storage device change notificationmay be provided on a mobile device of the user or other device based onlocation of the user, time or planned trip. The collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302 notifies the user, based onthe user's planned trip, the user's upcoming portable electrical energystorage device exchange destination based on time and current location.For example, a mobile device application utilizes an alarm and/orvibrator function of the mobile device to notify user of their plannedupcoming exchange based on real time GPS location.

In some embodiments, the collection, charging and distribution machinemanagement system 302 provides the user a “point of no return”notification alerting the user there are no more collection, chargingand distribution machine based on the user's current direction. This isto reduce the chance of the user riding outside of the supported vendinglocation. In some limited embodiments, the collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302 may not be able to cover acity 100% at a particular time with respect to monitoring currentavailability of portable electrical energy storage devices. In thisexample, the collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302 may determine that the user is intending to ride into anon-supported area based on the user riding direction (e.g., determinedbased on the user's battery swap pattern). The collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302 will, e.g., at thereservation at the collection, charging and distribution machine 102,warn the user that they are approaching the border of the area which hasvending support. The collection, charging and distribution machinemanagement system 302 differentiates abnormal user riding behavior fromusers who live on the fringe of the supported area. The collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302 will do this byknowing the user's last several exchange locations.

In some embodiments, if a user has not made a reservation at thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102, when the user reachesthe collection, charging and distribution machine 102 which does nothappen to have any portable electrical energy storage device fullycharged or otherwise available, the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 will display a screen showing an interactivemap directing the user to nearby locations with available portableelectrical energy storage devices (along with number of batteriesavailable portable electrical energy storage devices) such as thatsimilar to FIG. 5, for example. The user can then click, touch orotherwise select one of the locations and temporarily reserve the numberof portable electrical energy storage devices the user will need andproceed to the selected location to retrieve the portable electricalenergy storage devices. The temporary reservation may be for a definedshort amount of time and will automatically expire if a user does notreach the destination in time.

The collection, charging and distribution machine system may identifythe user via the user interface of the collection, charging anddistribution machine by the user inputting particular user credentials,a password, biometric data, the user identification number or code,and/or by the card reader 208 e described above, etc. The collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302, a navigationsystem running on the mobile device 313 and/or a navigation systemrunning on the vehicle 310 a may then provide driving directions to theselected collection, charging and distribution machine such as on thedisplayed map or another map available to the user. Also, the locationsof the collection, charging and distribution machines and associatedinformation regarding available portable electrical energy storagedevices need not be displayed on a map, but may be communicated andorganized in any manner including in a list, as a group of selectableicons, etc., that indicates particular collection, charging anddistribution machines have one or more available portable electricalenergy storage devices.

In some instances, particular collection, charging and distributionmachines may be further away from the user's current location than othercollection, charging and distribution machines that perhaps arecurrently experiencing higher demand. Thus, the collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302 may communicate to the user aredeemable incentive for the user to exchange or return their portableelectrical energy storage devices to one of the collection, charging anddistribution machines that are further away from the user than othercloser collection, charging and distribution machines that also haveavailable portable electrical energy storage devices. For example, theincentive may be redeemable as a discount or credit on fees related tothe use of one or more of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines. Also, users may be provided similar incentives toreturn or exchange electrical energy storage devices before they aredepleted or almost depleted to head off or smooth out an anticipatedspike in demand.

In some embodiments, various options and features regarding availableportable electrical energy storage devices may be generated and madeavailable to the user. For example, a user's historical routeinformation may be utilized by the collection, charging and distributionmachine management system 302 to anticipate which collection, chargingand distribution machines the user may likely to want to visit, andavailability of charged portable electrical energy storage devices atthese particular collection, charging and distribution machines may becommunicated to the user automatically as these portable electricalenergy storage devices at these locations become available (e.g., bysending an alert to the user). The availability of charged portableelectrical energy storage devices at these particular collection,charging and distribution machines may also or instead be highlighted orgiven special designations on the displayed map, or may be indicated onthe displayed map instead of locations of other collection, charging anddistribution machines at which portable electrical energy storagedevices are available. The number and types of available portableelectrical energy storage devices at each collection, charging anddistribution machine location within the area may also be displayed. Forexample, the number of available high performance portable electricalenergy storage devices and other types of portable electrical energystorage devices at each collection, charging and distribution machinemay be communicated to the user. These various options may be selectableby the user via a mobile device 313, user interface on the vehicle 310a, or other computing device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the collection, charging and distributionmachine management system 302 of FIG. 3, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment.

The collection, charging and distribution machine management system 302includes a control subsystem 402, a communications subsystem 406, and auser interface subsystem 408. However, such a system and associatedfunctionalities may also be present in the vehicle (e.g., vehicle 310 aof FIG. 3) and/or the user mobile device 313 also shown in FIG. 3.

The control subsystem 402 includes a controller 410, for example amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic controller (PLC),programmable gate array (PGA), application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) or another controller capable of receiving signals from varioussensors, performing logical operations, and sending signals to variouscomponents. Typically, the controller 410 may take the form of amicroprocessor (e.g., INTEL, AMD, ATOM). The control subsystem 402 mayalso include one or more non-transitory processor- or computer-readablestorage media, for example read only memory (ROM) 412, random accessmemory (RAM) 414, and data store 416 (e.g., solid-state storage mediasuch as flash memory or EEPROM, spinning storage media such as harddisk). The non-transitory processor- or computer-readable storage media412, 414, 416 may be in addition to any non-transitory storage medium(e.g., registers) which is part of the controller 410. The controlsubsystem 402 may include one or more buses 418 (only one illustrated)coupling various components together, for example one or more powerbuses, instruction buses, data buses, etc.

As illustrated, the ROM 412, or some other one of the non-transitoryprocessor- or computer-readable storage media 412, 414, 416, storesinstructions and/or data or values for variables or parameters. The setsof data may take a variety of forms, for example a lookup table, a setof records in a database, etc. The instructions and sets of data orvalues are executable by the controller 410. Execution of theinstructions and sets of data or values causes the controller 410 toperform specific acts to cause the collection, charging and distributionmachine management system 302 receive, send and/or to provideinformation to various external devices regarding locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines that have availablecharged portable electrical energy storage devices for use. Execution ofthe instructions and sets of data or values may also cause thecontroller 410 to perform specific acts to cause the collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302 receive, send,store, maintain, update and otherwise manage information regardingreservations of various portable electrical energy storage devices ofvarious collection, charging and distribution machines. Specificoperation of the collection, charging and distribution machinemanagement system 302 is described herein and also below with referenceto various flow diagrams (FIGS. 6-9).

The controller 410 may use RAM 414 in a conventional fashion, forvolatile storage of instructions, data, etc. The controller 410 may usedata store 416 to log or retain information, for example, informationregarding portable electrical energy storage device availability andreservations of portable electrical energy storage devices, informationregarding relative demand of charged portable electrical energy storagedevices between geographical locations, information regarding historicusage patterns of one or more of the plurality of collection, chargingand distribution machines, information regarding user vehicle locationsand telematic and/or telemetric user vehicle information, informationregarding portable electrical energy storage device charge capacity,information regarding route information of users of one or more of thecharged portable electrical energy storage devices, informationregarding energy storage devices, telemetric information related tocollection, charging and/or distribution of collection of the portableelectric power storage devices 106 and/or operation of the collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302 itself. Theinstructions are executable by the controller 410 to control operationof the collection, charging and distribution machine management system302 in response to input from remote systems such as collection,charging and distribution machines, collection, charging anddistribution machine service systems, user mobile devices, uservehicles, and end user or operator input, and using data or values forthe variables or parameters.

The control subsystem 402 may also receive signals from various sensorsand/or components of a collection, charging and distribution machine,such as the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1via the communications subsystem 206 of collection, charging anddistribution machine 102. This information may include information thatcharacterizes or is indicative of operation, status, or condition ofsuch components. Sensors are represented in FIG. 2 by the letter Sappearing in a circle along with appropriate subscript letters. Forexample, one or more position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may detect thepresence or absence of portable electrical power storage device 106 ateach of the receivers 104. This information may be communicated to thecontrol subsystem 402. Also, one or more charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN)may detect a charge level charge of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 at each of the receivers 104. This information mayalso be communicated to the control subsystem 402.

The communications subsystem 406 may include one or more communicationsmodules or components which facilities communications with the variouscomponents of a collection, charging and distribution machine, such ascollection, charging and distribution machine 112 of FIG. 1 and also thevarious components of the collection, charging and distribution machines308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d of FIG. 3, the portable electrical energystorage device transfer service 312 and the one or more user mobilecommunication devices 313, such that data may be exchanged between thecollection, charging and distribution machine management system 302, thecollection, charging and distribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and308 d, and the user mobile communication device 313. The communicationssubsystem 406 may, for example, include one or more modems 452 or one ormore Ethernet or other types of communications cards or components 454.A port 456 a of the control subsystem 402 may communicatively couple thecontrol subsystem 402 with a port 456 b of the communications subsystem406. The communications subsystem 406 may provide wired and/or wirelesscommunications. The communications subsystem 406 may include one or moreports, wireless receivers, wireless transmitters or wirelesstransceivers to provide wireless signal paths to the various remotecomponents or systems. The remote communications subsystem 406 mayinclude one or more bridges or routers suitable to handle networktraffic including switched packet type communications protocols(TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networking protocols.

The user interface system 408 includes one or more user input/output(I/O) components (not illustrated). For example, user interface system408 may include a touch screen display operable to present informationand a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user and to receiveindications of user selections. The user interface system 408 mayinclude a keyboard or keypad, and/or a cursor controller (e.g., mouse,trackball, trackpad, and/or touch screen) to allow a user to enterinformation and/or select user selectable icons in a GUI.

FIG. 5 is an example user interface 500 indicating locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment. For example, the user interface 500may be a user interface of the user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 ashown in FIG. 3. Shown are three selectable icons on a map 608representing locations of collection, charging and distribution machines(collection, charging and distribution machine A 502, collection,charging and distribution machine B 504 and collection, charging anddistribution machine C 506) within a particular distance (e.g., a 10kilometer radius) from user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a. Alsoshown on the map 508 of the user interface 500 is an icon representingthe current location 510 of the user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a.Each selectable icon representing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines (collection, charging and distribution machine A502, collection, charging and distribution machine B 504 and collection,charging and distribution machine C 506) also displays the drivingdistance from the current location 510 of the mobile device 313 orvehicle 310 a; the driving time from the current location 610 of themobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a; and the number of available portableelectrical energy storage devices at the collection, charging anddistribution machine corresponding to the selectable icon. The user mayselect the particular selectable icon representing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines (collection, charging anddistribution machine A 502, collection, charging and distributionmachine B 504 and collection, charging and distribution machine C 506)to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device at thecollection, charging and distribution machine corresponding to theselected icon. The user interface may then display a confirmation thatthe portable electrical energy storage device has been reserved, thetime remaining until the reservation expires and directions from theuser's current location 510 to the collection, charging and distributionmachine corresponding to the selected icon.

FIG. 6 shows a high level method 600 of providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

At 602, the collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302, user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a receives informationregarding locations of a plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines. For example, this information may includelocation data for the collection, charging and distribution machines viaa GPS signal. Also included may be additional information regarding thequantity of available portable electrical energy storage devices at eachcollection, charging and distribution machine, the charge levels of theportable electrical energy storage devices, the types of portableelectrical energy storage devices available and the availability of theportable electrical energy storage devices for use.

At 604, the collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302, user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a receives informationregarding a location of a user (e.g., GPS coordinates, or other dataidentifying the location of the user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310a).

At 606, the collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302, user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a communicates to theuser locations of one or more of the plurality of collection, chargingand distribution machines that are one or more of: within a particulardistance from the location of the user and within a particular drivingtime from the location of the user. For example, the collection,charging and distribution machine management system 302 may communicatethe locations of the one or more of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines to the user mobile device 313, whichwill then display these locations on a map displayed on the user mobiledevice 313 including the user's current location (e.g., such as thatshown on map 508 in FIG. 5).

FIG. 7 shows a low level method 700 of providing locations ofcollection, charging and distribution machines useful in the method ofFIG. 6, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

At 702, the collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302, user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a communicate to theuser locations of one or more of the plurality of collection, chargingand distribution machines that are both within the particular distancefrom the location of the user and within the particular driving timefrom the location of the user. For example, in one embodiment onlycollection, charging and distribution machines that are both within a 10km radius of the user mobile device 313 and within 10 minutes drivingtime form the user device 313 are displayed on a map of the userinterface of the user mobile device 313.

FIG. 8 shows a high level method 800 of reserving a portable electricalenergy storage device, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, useful in the method of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

At 802, the collection, charging and distribution machine managementsystem 302, user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a receives a requestoriginating from the user to reserve a portable electrical energystorage device available at one of the one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines. For example, this may bea request activated or triggered by a selection of one of the threeselectable icons on the map 508 representing locations of collection,charging and distribution machines (collection, charging anddistribution machine A 502, collection, charging and distributionmachine B 504 and collection, charging and distribution machine C 506)within a particular distance from user mobile device 313 or vehicle 310a as shown in FIG. 5.

At 804, in response to the request, the collection, charging anddistribution machine management system 302, user mobile device 313 orvehicle 310 a reserves for the user an available portable electricalenergy storage device at the selected one of the one or more of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines. Forexample, this request may be sent from the user mobile device 313 to thecollection, charging and distribution machine management system 302 forthe collection, charging and distribution machine management system 302to update the reservation system maintained by the collection, chargingand distribution machine management system 302 to indicate thereservation.

FIG. 9 shows a high level method 900 of providing a user interface forproviding locations of collection, charging and distribution machines,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

At 902, the mobile device 13 or vehicle 310 a receives informationregarding locations of one or more of a plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines that are one or more of: within aparticular distance from a location of a user and within a particulardriving time from the location of the user.

At 904, the mobile device 313 or vehicle 310 a displays a map on whichthe location of the user is indicated and on which one or more of thelocations of the one or more of the plurality of collection, chargingand distribution machines are indicated. For example, shown in FIG. 5 isa map 508 on which the location of the user is indicated and on whichone or more of the locations of the one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines are indicated. However,other types of maps, driving directions and types of indications of thelocations of the one or more of the plurality of collection, chargingand distribution machines may be used.

FIG. 10 shows a high level method 1000 of communicating, via a mobiledevice of a user, the locations of one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

At 1002, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines receives information regarding locations of aplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines forcollection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energystorage devices.

At 1004, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines receives information regarding a location of auser via a mobile device of the user.

At 1006, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines communicates to the user locations of one or moreof the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines. Thelocations of one or more of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines are one or more of: within a particular distancefrom the location of the user and within a particular driving time fromthe location of the user. The locations of one or more of the pluralityof collection, charging and distribution machines are communicated bycommunicating, via the mobile device of the user, locations of the oneor more of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines that are both within the particular distance from the locationof the user and within the particular driving time from the location ofthe user.

At 1008, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines receives a request originating from the mobiledevice to reserve a portable electrical energy storage device availableat one of the one or more of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines.

At 1010, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines, in response to the request, reserves for theuser, for a limited period of time, an available portable electricalenergy storage device at the one of the one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines. The limited period oftime automatically expires if the user does not reach the one of the oneor more of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines in time.

FIG. 11 shows a high level method 1100 of reserving portable electricalenergy storage devices based on information regarding the potentialroute of a user, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

At 1102, the system for reserving portable electrical energy storagedevices receives information regarding locations of a plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines for collection, chargingand distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices.

At 1104, the system for reserving portable electrical energy storagedevices receives information regarding locations of a plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines for collection, chargingand distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices.

At 1106, the system for reserving portable electrical energy storagedevices reserves, for the user, one or more available portableelectrical energy storage devices at one or more correspondingcollection, charging and distribution machines based on the informationregarding the potential route of a user.

FIG. 12 shows a high level method 1200 of warning a user that the useris near an edge of the pre-determined area having portable electricalenergy storage device collection, charging and distribution machines.

At 1202, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines receives user input at a collection, charging anddistribution machine.

At 1204, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines determines whether the user is likely to ventureoutside a pre-determined area having portable electrical energy storagedevice collection, charging and distribution machines.

At 1206, the system for providing locations of collection, charging anddistribution machines, if it is determined that the user is likely toventure outside the pre-determined area having portable electricalenergy storage device collection, charging and distribution machines,then warns the user that the user is near an edge of the pre-determinedarea having portable electrical energy storage device collection,charging and distribution machines.

The various methods described herein may include additional acts, omitsome acts, and/or may perform the acts in a different order than set outin the various flow diagrams.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics,and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examplescontain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that each function and/or operation withinsuch block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, thepresent subject matter may be implemented via one or moremicrocontrollers. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can beequivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits (e.g.,Application Specific Integrated Circuits or ASICs), as one or morecomputer programs executed by one or more computers (e.g., as one ormore programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or moreprograms executed by on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers)as one or more programs executed by one or more processors (e.g.,microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and/or firmware would be well within the skill of one ofordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this disclosure.

When logic is implemented as software and stored in memory, logic orinformation can be stored on any non-transitory computer-readable mediumfor use by or in connection with any processor-related system or method.In the context of this disclosure, a memory is a nontransitory computer-or processor-readable storage medium that is an electronic, magnetic,optical, or other physical device or means that non-transitorilycontains or stores a computer and/or processor program. Logic and/or theinformation can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructionsassociated with logic and/or information.

In the context of this specification, a “computer-readable medium” canbe any physical element that can store the program associated with logicand/or information for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, and/or device. The computer-readable mediumcan be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatusor device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette (magnetic, compact flash card, secure digital, or thelike), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory),a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), and digital tape.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. To the extent that they are not inconsistent withthe specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents,U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreignpatents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publicationsreferred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application DataSheet, including but not limited to: U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/511,900 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH ASBATTERIES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/647,936 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH ASBATTERIES” and filed May 16, 2012, U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/534,753 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORREDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BETWEENCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,761 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROLOF POWER STORAGE DEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,772 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROLOF POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BASED ON USER PROFILES” andfiled Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/511,887 entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF COMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTORDRIVE VEHICLES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/647,941 entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OFCOMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” and filed May 16, 2012,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,880 entitled“DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FOR BEST EFFORT ECONOMY” andfiled Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/557,170 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD, AND ARTICLE FOR PHYSICALSECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES” and filed Nov. 8, 2011,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/581,566 entitledAPPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COMPARTMENT’and filed Dec. 29, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/601,404 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING VEHICLEDIAGNOSTIC DATA” and filed Feb. 21, 2012, U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/601,949 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLEFOR PROVIDING LOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Feb. 22, 2012, and U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/601,953 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF POWERSTORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTION MACHINE” and filed Feb. 22, 2012, U.S. application Ser. No.13/559,314 filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke, MatthewWhiting Taylor and Huang-Cheng Hung as inventors and entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTINGPOWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES”, U.S. application Ser. No.13/559,038 filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke andMatthew Whiting Taylor as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGEDEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” U.S. application Ser. No. 13/559,264 filed onJul. 26, 2012 naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke and Matthew Whiting Taylor asinventors and entitled “DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FOR BESTEFFORT ECONOMY”, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/559,054 filed on Jul. 26,2012, naming Matthew Whiting Taylor, Yi-Tsung Wu, Hok-Sum Horace Lukeand Huang-Cheng Hung as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD, ANDARTICLE FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES”,U.S. application Ser. No. 13/559,390 filed on Jul. 26, 2012, namingChing Chen, Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Matthew Whiting Taylor, Yi-Tsung Wu asinventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDINGVEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA”, and U.S. application Ser. No. 13/559,343 filedon Jul. 26, 2012, naming Yi-Tsung Wu, Matthew Whiting Taylor, Hok-SumHorace Luke and Jung-Hsiu Chen as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OFPOWER STORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTION MACHINE” are incorporated herein by reference, in theirentirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, toemploy systems, circuits and concepts of the various patents,applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.

While generally discussed in the environment and context of collection,charging and distribution of portable electrical energy storage devicesfor use with personal transportation vehicle such as all-electricscooters and/or motorbikes, the teachings herein can be applied in awide variety of other environments, including other vehicular as well asnon-vehicular environments.

The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what isdescribed in the Abstract of the Disclosure, is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed.Although specific embodiments and examples are described herein forillustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as willbe recognized by those skilled in the relevant art.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A system comprising: at least one processor; and at leastone processor-readable memory that stores instructions executable by theat least one processor to cause the at least one processor to: determinea planned trip associated with a user profile, wherein the planned tripincludes a planned route; determine a first collection, charging anddistribution machine and a second collection, charging and distributionmachine in the planned route; receive a signal indicating that a firstportable electrical energy storage device associated with the userprofile is swapped in the first collection, charging and distributionmachine; and in response to the signal, automatically initiate areservation timer configured to reserve a second portable electricalenergy storage device in the second collection, charging anddistribution machine.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor-readable memory stores instructions executable by the at leastone processor to cause the at least one processor to: determine, priorto a trip time period indicated by the planned trip, whether the firstportable electrical energy storage device is available at the firstcollection, charging and distribution machine during the trip timeperiod; if the at least one processor determines that the first portableelectrical energy storage device is available at the first collection,charging and distribution machine, automatically reserve the firstportable electrical energy storage device.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the at least one processor-readable memory stores instructionsexecutable by the at least one processor to cause the at least oneprocessor to: confirm reserving the second portable electrical energystorage device at least partially based on a location of a mobile deviceassociated with the user profile.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein theat least one processor-readable memory stores instructions executable bythe at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to:confirm reserving the second portable electrical energy storage deviceat least partially based on a location of a vehicle associated with theuser profile.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor-readable memory stores instructions executable by the at leastone processor to cause the at least one processor to: transmit anotification to a mobile device associated with the user profileregarding the reservation timer.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein theat least one processor-readable memory stores instructions executable bythe at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to:transmit a notification to a vehicle associated with the user profileregarding the reservation timer.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein theat least one processor-readable memory stores instructions executable bythe at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to:Transmit a point-of-no-return notification to a mobile device associatedwith the user profile, indicating unavailability of portable electricalenergy storage devices beyond a location determined based on the plannedtrip.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor-readable memory stores instructions executable by the at leastone processor to cause the at least one processor to: transmit apoint-of-no-return notification to a vehicle associated with the userprofile, indicating unavailability of portable electrical energy storagedevices beyond a location determined based on the planned trip.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor-readable memorystores instructions executable by the at least one processor to causethe at least one processor to: display a map on which a mobile deviceassociated with the user profile is indicated and on which the first andsecond collection, charging and distribution machines are indicated. 10.The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor-readablememory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor tocause the at least one processor to: display a map on which a vehicleassociated with the user profile is indicated and on which the first andsecond collection, charging and distribution machines are indicated. 11.The system of claim 1, wherein the planned route is determined based ona user input.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the planned route isdetermined based on historical driving routes associated with the userprofile.
 13. A system comprising: at least one processor; and at leastone processor-readable memory that stores instructions executable by theat least one processor to cause the at least one processor to: determinea planned trip associated with a user profile, wherein the planned tripincludes a planned route; identify two or more collection, charging anddistribution machines along the planned route; receive a signalindicating that a first portable electrical energy storage deviceassociated with the user profile is swapped hi a first machine of thetwo or more identified collection, charging and distribution machines;and in response to the signal, automatically initiate a reservationtimer configured to reserve a second portable electrical energy storagedevice in a second machine of the two or more identified collection,charging and distribution machines.
 14. The system of claim 13, whereinthe at least one processor-readable memory stores instructionsexecutable by the at least one processor to cause the at least oneprocessor to: determine availability of portable electrical energystorage devices at the identified two or more collection, charging anddistribution machines in a trip time period indicated by the plannedtrip; transmit a point-of-no-return notification to a user device basedon the determined availability of the portable electrical energy storagedevices at the identified two or more collection, charging anddistribution machines; wherein the point-of-no-return notificationindicates unavailability of portable electrical energy storage devicesbeyond a location determined based on the planned route.
 15. The systemof claim 13, wherein the planned route is determined based on a userinput.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the planned route isdetermined based on historical driving routes associated with the userprofile.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least oneprocessor-readable memory stores instructions executable by the at leastone processor to cause the at least one processor to: based on thereservation timer, automatically confirm the reserved second portableelectrical energy storage device when a mobile device associated withthe user profile is determined to be within a threshold distance fromthe second portable electrical energy storage device.
 18. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the at least one processor-readable memory storesinstructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the atleast one processor to: based on the reservation timer, automaticallyconfirm the reserved second portable electrical energy storage devicewhen a vehicle associated with the user profile is determined to bewithin a threshold distance from the second machine.
 19. A methodcomprising: receiving, by a processor, information regarding a plannedroute associated with a user profile; determining, by the processor,first and second collection, charging and distribution machines based onthe planned route; receiving a signal indicating that a first portableelectrical energy storage device associated with the user profile isswapped in the first collection, charging and distribution machine; andin response to the signal, automatically initiating a reservation timerconfigured to reserve a second portable electrical energy storage devicein the second collection, charging and distribution machine.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising: based on the reservation timer,automatically confirm the reserved second portable electrical energystorage device when a vehicle associated with the user profile isdetermined to be within a threshold distance from the second portableelectrical energy storage device.